La Grajuela San Javier

Pedanías San Javier, La Grajuela

The village and pedanía of La Grajuela is about two kilometers from the town of San Javier, to the north-east of the town centre and close to the boundary of the municipalityof San Pedro del Pinatar. It is one of the farming communities of San Javier, and is part of the extensive arable land of the Campo de Cartagena.

Unfarmed land in this area is dry and flat, covered with rough scrubland, in marked contrast to the area covered with crops, some of which are under plastic and others in the open air. The implementation of modern drip-system irrigation techniques, allows various crops to be grown, including melons, peppers, artichokes and flowers, which are grown and harvested throughout the year.

There are no known references to the existence of settlements in the pedanía before the 19th century, which is when much of the major population explosion across the Mar Menor took place, as infrastructure improved and families spread from Murcia capital into the campo.

Geographical surveys and statistical bulletins refer to La Grajuela in the 19^th century as belonging to the jurisdiction of Murcia, and it is known that this state of affairs was altered only in the period 1820-23, following La Grajuela San Javier the configuration of new municipal boundaries. Various notary documents point to the fact that the village was already inhabited in the 18^th century, when the population was scattered among different farming concerns, each of which had a large farmhouse and its own water deposit or well.

It is still possible to see the remains of buildings from this time which show the agricultural nature of the community, such as two flour mills, a water mill in the Finca Los Pérez and a windmill on the Finca del Molino. These remains are a part of the historical heritage of daily life in the small villages around the Mar Menor in the 19^th century.

Even today, agriculture is still the main motor of the local economy. There are various large farming estates in La Grajuela, including Los Gallos, Los Hondos, Los Jiménez, Los Escuderos, Los Hernández and Los Pérez. Many of them are fruit and vegetable growing concerns, with the main crops being those mentioned above.

There is a small industrial estate which is home to a few manufacturing businesses, mainly related to agriculture, including seeds, pesticides and nurseries, as well as some service industries. The large Dos La Grajuela San Javier Mares shopping centre is very close to La Grajuela, and attracts numerous shoppers from both San Javier and San Pedro del Pinatar.

Fiestas in La Grajuela

The village fiestas are held in April and May over various weekends, and a number of celebrations and events are included. One of the main events is the procession of the Virgen de Fátima, to whom the La Grajuela church is dedicated, which includes a floral offering to the village’s patron saint.

Centro Social La Grajuela

The civic centre of La Grajuela is in the area known as Paraje Los Matas. Like the church, it is dedicated to the Virgen de Fátima, and a Mass in her honour is held in the centre’s small chapel once a month.